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“Because we’re not in Nevada, but Iraq. And before you ask, you won’t find this place on a map or satellite image. Tower is hidden from most eyes.”

“Iraq? Did I fall asleep? Because it feels like only minutes ago we were still in Nevada.”

“Because we were. Starbeaming happens quick, from a few seconds to get home to a few minutes. Given you didn’t pass out, I’d say the former.”

“I didn’t realize anyone had mastered translocation technology,” she stated. “Hell, I didn’t even realize anyone was doing actual trials for it, let alone succeeded in teleporting living organisms.”

“We’ve had this ability for centuries,” he boasted. “And it’s not done via a machine. Honestly, I have no idea how it works. Guess the closest science term would be astral physics, but, given I don’t understand that mumbo jumbo, I still fall back on what most people call it; magic.”

“Magic isn’t real.”

“Yeah, you won’t be saying that after a few days here.” Everyone changed their mind once they got a taste of what Tower could do.

“Exactly how long am I supposed to be staying for?”

He shrugged. “That depends on Adam and Cetus. You can go home once we’re sure it’s safe.”

“Given we have the orb, shouldn’t we be fine?” She patted the bag holding it.

Capricorn eyed the bulging bag and frowned. “It’s still in there?”

“Well, yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Because the last two disappeared during starbeams.” He’d kind of assumed the same would happen with this one.

“I still have it.” She unraveled the bundle and pulled it out. Her brow creased.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I didn’t notice in the excitement before, but it’s not making my fingers tingle anymore.”

“Is that weird?”

“Weirder than everything else that’s happened? Not really, but it would indicate something about it has changed.”

“Give me a second to check on something.” Capricorn dashed into the portal room for a glance. Since he’d been dealing with Zora, he’d not thought to check the thirteenth dais when they arrived. It remained two-thirds full, which made sense given they still had possession of the relic. Did the fact they’d managed to bring it back intact mean they’d stopped what was to come?

Seemed too easy.

Capricorn returned to the main hall in time to see Zora dashing the artifact to the floor. It hit hard and rolled a few feet.

“What are you doing?” he exclaimed.

Rather than reply, Zora crouched and snared the artifact. She held it up and showed him the dented side.

“I thought you said it was indestructible,” he asked, confusion creasing his brow.

“It is. Hate to break it to you, but it appears we escaped with a fake.”

CHAPTER 9

“A fake!”Capricorn yelled. “That fucking bastard pulled a switcheroo.”

“I’m not surprised. Crius is a sly bastard.” And Zora hadn’t clued in, too adrenalized at the time to realize something might be amiss.

“Fuck me,” he huffed. “My entire mission was about retrieving the relic.”

“Does that mean you’re going back?”